[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 24 (Monday, June 17, 2002)]
[Pages 1001-1002]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Presenting the National Medals of Science and Technology

June 12, 2002

    Please be seated. Thank you all very much, and welcome to the White 
House. It is a--it's an honor to be with so many incredibly bright and 
innovative people.
    I want to welcome the winners. I want to welcome your family 
members. I want to welcome your friends, and I want to welcome those of 
us who are just happy to be in your presence. [Laughter] The science and 
technology leaders here today have turned genius

[[Page 1002]]

and persistence into knowledge and technology that will shape lives for 
decades to come. And that must make you feel pretty darn good.
    Our honorees are the prophets of a better age, seeing the future 
before a lot of folks don't see the present. They have earned these 
medals, and as they do so, they earn the thanks of their fellow 
Americans.
    I want to thank the Secretary of Commerce, Don Evans, who will be 
here to administer--who is here to administer the National Medal of 
Technology. I want to thank Secretary Rod Paige, the Secretary of 
Education. I want to thank the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, Dr. John Marburger, for the fine job he is doing on 
behalf of the country. John, thank you for coming.
    I want to thank the Members of the United States Congress who are 
here. I appreciate you all being here to cheer on the recipients from 
your districts.
    The medals we present today are the highest honors--the highest 
honors--a President can bestow in the fields of science and technology. 
And today's honorees have earned this recognition with their tireless 
work. Some of the honorees are learning how to battle cancer with new 
therapies. Others are advancing our understanding of the Earth and the 
Sun. Others are creating new methods for analyzing data. All of our 
honorees and their colleagues throughout the United States are asking 
questions whose answers will improve lives, not only here at home but 
around the world.
    Science and--scientific and technological research are a high 
calling for any individual. And promoting research is an important role 
of our Federal Government. I'm pleased that this year's budget includes 
the most research and development funding in the history of our country. 
We'll continue to support science and technology because innovation 
makes America stronger. Innovation helps Americans to live longer, 
healthier, and happier lives. Innovation helps our economy grow and 
helps people find work. Innovation strengthens our national defense and 
our homeland security, and we need a strong national defense and 
homeland security as we fight people who hate America because we're 
free.
    President Franklin Roosevelt's science adviser was a fellow named 
Vannevar Bush. He doesn't claim me, and I don't claim him. [Laughter] 
But here's what he says. He said, ``Without scientific progress, the 
national health would deteriorate. Without scientific progress, we could 
not hope for improvement in our standard of living or an increased 
number of jobs for our citizens. Without scientific progress, we could 
not have maintained our liberties against tyranny.'' What Vannevar Bush 
said back then is true today.
    Scientists and researchers do vital work, and they oftentimes do it 
outside the limelight. It's a good thing to shine the light here in the 
White House. Their influence extends beyond laboratories. It reaches 
into hospitals and homes and classrooms. And as importantly, your work 
inspires young Americans who study past scientific breakthroughs in 
order to chart their own paths of discovery.
    The world of our children will be shaped by the people we honor 
today. On behalf of all Americans, I want to thank you for your lifelong 
commitment to making our world a better place.
    In a few moments, Secretary Evans will help me present the National 
Medals of Technology, but first I ask Dr. Marburger to come to the stage 
to assist me with the presentation of the 2001 National Medals of 
Science.

Note: The President spoke at 2:20 p.m. in the East Room at the White 
House.